Scallion Salsa for the Stagnant Liver

We don’t necessarily need tons of super-food meals and rare Chinese herbs to balance our organs. This spring, our liver can find relief in the most humble ingredient:

The scallion!

We think of it as a useless garnish or flavor enhancer, but the scallion is remarkably healing according to TCM. It has a ‘warm’ essence (energy) and is particularly balancing to the Liver and Stomach organs and meridians. Scallions are often medicinally used to aid deficient spleen qi (weak digestion) and to help regulate and circulate qi (stagnant energy). The mini onions are very useful in treating stagnant liver energy! Hello liver detox.

The green scallion tops are particularly effective in supporting the liver, while the white part is more healing to the lungs. Use both! With the volatile weather transitions and allergy season approaching we want to keep our lungs strong and healthy! In TCM, the liver and lungs have a very interdependent relationship: they both need to be strong in order to avoid the hypersensitivity that leads to allergies!

Cook with them, add them to anything! Meals, soups, stews, broths, sautéed vegetables, even add to your Raw Soup Recipe!

Or eat them another fun way:

Scallion Salsa Recipe

• ½ cup – 1 cup chopped whole scallions
• ¼ of an onion
• 1 bunch red radishes, finely chopped
• 2-3 cups mini tomatoes
• ¼ – ½ cup cilantro
• 1-2 tbsps fresh lime juice
• 1 large pinch of Celtic sea salt
• ½ finely diced cucumber
• 1-2 garlic cloves
• 2 tbsps olive oil
• Black pepper to taste

Use as a garnish, side dish or dip. Jalapenos / red pepper optional, but easy on the spicy, your liver may need a break from it this season!

Isabella Gucci-Ruffalo